Saturday, March 28, 2015

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?

I’ve always loved speculative fiction – to be able to let my imagination run that little bit wild and fantastical is a real joy. I have tried a few times to write stories that are more ‘real to life’ but always seem to end up putting something in them that blurs the boundaries. It’s what I love to write.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?

Somewhere in between. I usually have a very sketchy plot plan to guide me but it really is the characters that drive the story. There’s nothing quite like the feel of surprise when the characters react in a way that I wasn’t expecting (or maybe that’s just me – hmm, perhaps I’m saying too much – I am sane, truly!).

Do you have a favourite of your characters?

That’s an interesting question…like asking if I have a favourite child (which, for the record, I don’t)! I immediately went to say Nick, because I love the slight element of dorkiness that he has, coupled with such a strong determination but I love Grace and the way that she grows in the story – how strong she becomes. Lillie, of course, is just awesome and Jake is the best friend that everyone should have... No, sorry I can’t answer that question!

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on another book that features one of the minor characters from Aquila. She is such an interesting person – very different to what you see on surface level and I’m really enjoying getting into her head. And better yet, she’s heading to Noosa for the story – a place I love.

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

I love the excitement of getting into a character’s head and thinking about where their story might head. But I love getting to the end of the first draft too and that wonderful feeling that comes from finishing the story…even if it might need to be tweeked slightly in the editing process.

What can we expect from Sue-Ellen Pashley in the future?

I’d love to say ‘a lot more books!’ And hopefully, that will be true. As well as the MS I’m working on at the moment, I have another 2 in progress as well as a novella that I’m planning to release as a set with 3 other fantastic and talented writers. 2015 will hopefully be a good year.

Dr Who (of course), Matrix(despite how confusing it got sometimes!), Game of Thrones (loving the dragons – I want one!), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (old and new) and I am really loving the Penny Dreadful series at the moment. It has me well and truly hooked, which hasn’t happened for a while. Can’t wait for the second season.

Do you have advice for emerging writers?

The old adage of ‘you can’t edit a blank page’ still stands. So get writing! Also, go to workshops, join writers groups, immerse yourself – learn about the craft and make friends and contacts. And above all, write what you enjoy writing about.

~~~

Thanks, Sue-Ellen

Aquila, the blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Nick Larcombe is a self-confessed non-romantic. Until he lays eyes on Grace Carr, who has just moved to Bruny Island with her grandmother, Lillie.

Already bruised and battered by life, Grace isn’t looking for any sort of relationship, but when Nick, the mysterious boy next door, somehow rescues her from sure death at the bottom of a windswept cliff, Grace needs answers.

But how can Nick give her the answers she needs when he’s been sworn to secrecy, ordered to keep his true nature hidden from the girl he’s fallen hard for? And what will his community do when they discover he’s fallen in love with a human?

Intensely romantic, Aquila is a story of sacrifice and passion, and how true love can make you soar.Buy Links: iBooks | Kobo | Amazon

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Who
loves Highlanders? I simply adore those delicious hunky Highlanders, the
massive weapons they wield, and the Scottish Highlands where an incredible
amount of history resides. I also adore strong heroines who are up for an
adventure, can handle a sprinkle of faerie magic, and a dash of time travel to
keep them on their toes.

For a limited time, the first three books in my bestselling
Highlander Heat series are available in a boxed set, at the discounted price of
99c. Regular price $4.99. Save $4.00 while you can.

--oOo--

Three sinfully sexy Highlander romances by Joanne Wadsworth.

HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE ~ features a rugged
Scottish warrior who agrees to handfast with a lass from the enemy clan. When
she arrives at Alex’s castle, the last thing he expects is a woman claiming to
come from the future, and a woman who ignites in him a powerful desire. When
she is taken from him back through time, he’ll do all he can to get her back…

HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC ~ Archie MacDonald
has been gifted a faerie who insists she’s from the future and the progeny of
both his and his enemy’s clan. All he needs is Marie’s aid in the coming battle,
to rid the world of his enemy. Although in seeking his revenge against her
paternal ancestor…he might very well kill the one woman who’s now stolen his
heart.

HIGHLANDER’S CHARM ~ Lila MacIan is
transported through time to the Scottish warrior her magical charm has
soul-bound her to, a man she must now escape even though he has no intention of
letting her go…

(Bio)

JOANNE WADSWORTH

Where Romance Meets Fantasy and
Adventure…

Reading romance books captivated Joanne
Wadsworth as a teenager, particularly when she tucked herself into bed at night
and continued to dream those stories as she slept. She'd visualize the
direction, taking the hero and heroine on an adventure unparalleled to what
she'd read. Today she is devoted to writing romance, bringing her imagination
to life within the lines of young adult, contemporary, and historical
Highlander.

Born in New Zealand, Joanne works both
as a writer and a financial controller, all while keeping up with her four
energetic children and dreamy husband.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Less Than Three
Press put out a call for submissions for their Damsel in Distress anthology
last year. The brief; to write about strong women in a dangerous (physical or
emotional) situation who step up and fight their way out, or at least don't
have to be rescued. (That's why I love the movie Ever After, because Danielle (aka Cinderella) fights back and gets
away from her captive (the landowner Pierre le Pieu) and doesn't have to be rescued, but she
still has the chance to fall in love with her Prince)

I was
immediately up for the challenge.

What would be
better than not just one strong woman on the page but two?

An image burst
into my mind of a woman falling onto cushions then getting back up not wanting
to give up. The character Libby came into existence and it was Helen training
her in self-defense – my second strong woman.

These characters
suddenly took over and I followed their lead and the story flowed onto my
computer. Without planning it suddenly I had another female; an antagonist,
Scarlett, and Libby and Helen were going to be in for a hell of a ride, along
with myself because I now had to balance three strong women.

But it wasn't
easy having three strong women on the page at once or at least two, there's a
lot of emotion and its no good if they are all standing their ground getting no
where. I know what it can be like in real life with sisters and we are all
strong women and sometimes that leaves an explosive hole in the room that ends
up creating a black hole.

I didn't want
that to happen in my story, or at least I didn't want the characters to over
power the story and I wanted them all to get along (some what in a twisted
interesting read sort of way), after all sometimes it's fun to have a nemesis
that has haunted a character for a long time.

Then there was
the opposite problem. I didn't want to tone down the characters strength and
determination because then they wouldn't be strong female leads.

It was like
being on a seesaw!

To keep things
balanced I mixed up the three-way relationships, and set up events for Libby
and Helen to endure to get them to choose to stand up and defended themselves.
(I can't give too much away or I'll spoil the read!)

Editing
certainly played a big role and I kept adjusting the balance until these
characters could all play together in the same story and there were three
strong women fighting it out.

Let me know if
you would like to hear more of the adventures that Libby and Helen! Connect
with me at my blog, Goodreads,
Facebook
or Twitter. And if you have any
sexy looking steampunk outfits please share them with me on Pinterest!

The Clockwork
Heart

Haunted
by a past lover and left with scars so deep Libby gave up her life as an
explorer, she spends her day trying to avoid bad memories and training
ruthlessly with Helen, the woman she hired to teach her self-defense. Helen is
beautiful, appealing, and could be what Libby needs to climb out of her past
once and for all.

Leave a post
below for a chance to win an e-copy of The Clockwork Heart.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Today's Enchanted Orb post is with Maggie Mundy, author of dark speculative fiction, who is sharing her inspirational experiences with rejections.

Rejections are like Falling Off your Motorbike byMaggie Mundy

I wasn’t one of those people who thought they would always write a novel, and equally I wasn’t someone who thought about being a bikie chick either. My daughter had mentioned wanting to learn to ride and I said I would too. I didn’t think it would actually happen, after all you know what eighteen year olds are like. So when she said she was going to get her learners and you’re coming too mum, I didn’t have a leg to stand on. All I had ever done in the past was ride a moped back in the UK and been pillion on my husband’s bike so this was a huge step for me.

So I turn up at the learner’s course and don’t do too bad until the test where I freeze. Maybe the thought of having a licence that says I can go on the road was freaking me out. Second attempt and I thought I was doing okay until the test day when I had an instructor who was a male chauvinist pig to say the least. So I was not surprised when he didn’t pass me. Third time same guy failed me again. I was in tears and decided I would never do it again, and why was I putting myself through this.

Unbeknownst to me my husband and friend phoned up and complained about the instructor (they were not the first complaint about him) and I was given another chance. I passed with flying colours without Mr Grumpy around.

Over the next two years I practiced and decided to go for my full test. In the meantime the test centre had moved to the other side of town and I had to ride through a thunderstorm in during peak hour traffic and unfortunately didn’t pass.

I had another month before I could retake my test and there was a motorbike club get together in Mildura so I decided to ride the 400km. My husband and friends were saying are you sure you can do it, but I had to prove to myself that I was serious about wanting this. Now I’m not usually fearless and on the freeway I would get freaked out by the big trucks passing and the wind gusts blowing me around. My solution was to sing Akuna Mutate very loudly. It worked even if I probably looked demented.

Eventually did my test and past. That was last year and now I look back and have to say the experience taught me something about myself. When you fall off or get a rejection you should get back up and keep writing or get back on the bike no matter how bruised you are.

Be determined and persevere until you get there. I’m still not super brave but when I ride through a busy city now I break it up into small pieces so that I don’t get overwhelmed by what I am doing, and I can do the same with writing. Before I know it I’ve got there.

Years ago I did a fortune telling game and asked the question of whether I would get published. The answer that came back from the cards was to enjoy the journey. Now I do with the wind blowing in my hair.

I have been writing for ten years and have had more rejections than you could poke a stick at, but like with my bike I got up brushed myself off and tried again.

As for my publication journey, I am published with Phoenix Press and Soul Mate Publishing. I have two novellas out in my Seeker Chronicles, Blood Scent and Blood Oath. In my Earthbound Series, World Change the first book is out now. Hidden Mortality is now out with Soul Mate Publishing. In my Midworlder Series, Unknown Protector the first book is also available now.

About Maggie:

Maggie Mundy lives in Adelaide, Australia and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia, and the local chapter SARA (South Australian Romance Authors). She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, English and Creative Writing at Flinders University. She had a short story published in the RWA Topaz Anthology Little Gems in 2010 called Sea and Vines. She has two books out with Rogue Phoenix Press. An erotic novella called Blood Scent and a paranormal romance called World Change. She also has a supernatural thriller out with Soul Mate Publishing called Hidden Mortality.

She has also performed for many years in corporate entertainment for which she wrote her own sketches, which probably explains why her head is so full of characters. She loves writing romance but thinks falling in love can be scary, especially in her stories where creatures of the night really exist.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

I love paranormal stories, and most
especially those with something a bit different. Meet my gargoyles, where all
three stories—Stone-Cold Lover, Ice-Cold Lover & Red-Hot Lover—are bundled
into one nifty boxed set, and for 99c for a very short
time.

STONE-COLD LOVER

Book One in the Winged & Dangerous
series

Heiress Loretta Shaw is notorious for her
loose morals and sexual needs. Trouble is, it’s taken her one too many
one-night stands to realize that no man can extinguish the sexual fire she
feels toward her guardian, Cray Diamond.

A long-ago curse made Cray immortal—a
gargoyle, a guardian, who is impelled to protect a human chosen by the curse.
He is imprisoned in stone during daylight hours but dusk returns him to flesh
and bone to carry out his immortal duty.

That Cray can shift between human and
living gargoyle at night bothers Loretta not one bit. She’s seen him naked many
times and her desire for him—in any shape or form—knows no bounds. She’s tired
of his resistance. He’s her gargoyle … and she wants him in her bed.

ICE-COLD LOVER

Book two in the Winged and Dangerous
series.

Celeste has been having vivid sexual dreams
starring Pascal Daniels. The son of a mobster, he is every woman’s most
dangerous fantasy. Pascal leads a charmed life and can have any woman he wants,
any time he wants her. Celeste is determined to have him—but just once. Because
she has a secret she will fight tooth and nail to protect. She is human in
every way but one—hideous bat-like wings, a permanent legacy from her
once-cursed gargoyle father, Cray.

Pascal is used to attention from women, but
he’s looking for someone special. He’s interested in the ice queen, Celeste
Diamond. He thinks hers is the perfect female form, one he’d do anything to
possess. Pascal has decided it’s way past time to warm up the mysterious,
elusive Celeste.

And perhaps he’ll share some secrets of his
own.

RED-HOT LOVER

Book 3 in the Winged & Dangerous
series.

A hot-blooded gargoyle, Zahlee knows that
Steele, her gargoyle lover and leader of the Triskellon clan, is her perfect match
in every way. But she burns for just one more touch from Saul, the human lover
she left behind so many years ago. The same human she entrusted to raise and
care for her son, Pascal—to keep him safe from the dangers of the gargoyle
lifestyle.

Steele banishes Zahlee from the Triskellon
clan and forces her to return to Saul and extinguish all yearning for her
mortal ex. She quickly discovers a renewed lust for the only man she has ever
loved. Their chemistry cannot be denied and combusts into a raging wildfire she
never wants to end.

Zahlee yearns for happiness with her son
and her human lover. A gargoyle must sacrifice much to live in the human world,
but she is willing to give all for their love.

Friday, March 6, 2015

I will refer to myself as Mike and the person telling the
story as Bo:

public domain pictures.net

Mike: I have heard a lot of abduction stories in the past. I
was under the understanding they some how erased your memory. Why can you
remember so much?

Bo: In the beginning I did not remember a lot. In fact very
little. I had some medical issues and had to have surgery. They gave me
Anesthesia. After the surgery I became more aware. I started remembering things
in vivid detail about my abduction. It is almost like it turned part of my mind
back on.

Mike: When did this event occur?

Bo: In 1988 I awoke to dogs barking. When I opened my eyes I
was outside my house being escorted by 3 smaller beings to a round ball shaped
craft sitting under a heavy power line.

Mike: Can you describe this craft in more detail?

Bo: I saw it was round some type of orb; it had no lights on
it whatsoever. When the door opened and I was led into the craft I had to duck.
I am only 5’4 I saw no windows. I estimate there was enough room for 13-15
people in there.

Mike: What did these beings look like?

Bo: They were very short. I am 5’4 and they came to about
the height of my arm pit. I noticed big eyes small mouth.

Mike: How did they communicate with you?

Bo: At first it was talking normal. It then turned to some
how mental. I would be thinking of things and then they would answer me by
putting visions and answers in my head.

Mike: Were these little guys what people call gray’s?

Bo: I am not really sure. I found them very appalling so I
keep looking down so I would not have to look directly at them.

Mike: How overall did they treat you?

Bo: The little ones were very rude and I would even say
obnoxious things. I did not like them at all.

Mike: What happened when you entered the craft?

Bo: I was asking where are you taking me? Am I ever coming
back. Telepathically they told me to relax. We were going to what I knew as the
moon. I would be allowed to come home.

Mike: Did you in fact go to the moon? Can you remember
anything about the flight?

Bo: Yes, the orb I was in did something. When it took off I
was pulled forward. This was really weird to me. Anything I have been in that
left fast, Launched me backwards. This orb I was pulled forward. 15 seconds
after I felt this I was told we were on the moon.

Mike: Then what happened?

Bo: The next thing I remember I came to, I was naked in a
pool filled with a greenish gel and 14 or 15 other humans. Some where moving
under the gel, a woman was screaming and crying for help. Another man was
trying to crawl out of the pool. It was very slippery. He would get about ½ way
out and a blue-colored beam came out and kept knocking him back into the pool.

Mike: Can you describe this pool to me?

Bo: Yes, can you imagine the shape of a drill head? You
drill into something just to get the hole started so the edges are rounded.

Mike: Yes

Bo: That is the shape. Like it was built with a giant drill.

Mike: Can you explain the gel you were in? There purpose for
putting you in there?

Bo: I was thinking to myself why am I here what are they
going to do to me trying not to freak out.

They put into my mind the gel was harmless. I was told If I
went under I could breath the gel and even eat it. If I had to defecate in the
gel after eating it was ok. It would come out as it went in. Seeing people
moving around under the gel I believed them.

Mike: Did you go under and breath the gel?

Bo: No, I refused to go under. To your last question, I
believe the gel was a way to decontaminate us.

Mike: Then what happened ?

Bo: 3 of the smaller ones who took me to the orb came in to
escort me to a room. I did not like these guys at all. They kept touching me
and I could not stand their touch.

Mike: What did it feel like when they would touch you?

Bo: It wasn't warm like a human touch but it was not cold.
It was like touching a fish with little prick lies on it. They kept touching me
walking me thru this hall. I was starting to have thoughts of hitting one of
them.

Mike: Couldn't they read those thoughts?

Bo: Yes, I am sure they did because they must have called
this really big guy who walked up to us. He asked me to relax and said he would
help me thru this and answer my questions. He then walked me into a room.

Mike: Can you explain the layout of the place you where in?
Perhaps how it was lit?

Bo: No it was dark. I knew it must be large. There were
lights. But nothing like I have ever seen. They were like black lights. But
nothing glowed like it does in a black light.

Mike: What did the tall guy look like?

public domain pictures.net

Bo: He looked very human but hatefully ugly. I did not want
to offend him so I continued to look at the ground when we spoke. I did not
want to offend him. I had a very strong feeling he was trying to help me and he
was not pushy or rude like the little guys.

Mike: So what was in the room they took you into?

Bo: It looked from what I could see to be doctor’s room. The
big guy said to me; they wanted to put something into me for tracking reasons.
He asked if I would cooperate? I said; as long as you don't hurt me. He said; I
will be with you, they will not harm you in anyway. I trusted him. He led me to
a chair and had me sit down in it.

Mike: Please continue.

Bo: Well the little guys look at me and asked me to turn my
head to the right just a little bit. I do not know how they did it, but with my
right eye I could see my other eyeball. I watched them put a very small shiny
object, about the size of a half grain of rice into the back of my eyeball.
Within less than a minute, they were done and my full vision was restored.

Mike: Wow this is amazing.

Bo: Why do you think I don't like to publicize this stuff.
People will think I am full of it. But Mike:, as sure as I sit here I am telling
you the gods honest truth.

Mike: Before we continue would you answer a question for me?

Bo: Yes

Mike: If your name is not released would you be willing to
take a polygraph or any other truth agent to verify what you are telling us.

Bo: ABSOLUTELY without hesitation.

Mike: Thank you. So what happened next?

Bo: The big Alien who I may add was human. But god awful ugly.
Walked me into some type of control room. What I found amazing was the people
running this room turned out to be 13-15 year old humans. I know because they
looked right at me and smiled. They were perfect.

I was thinking what do these guys eat? How do they live up
here? As I was leaving the room with my escort. We came to a room and went in.
I saw a cow hanging head up. I could not see anything holding it in place.

He showed me in my head, How they actually make the cows as
they need them. I asked him why. He replied; What do Babies eat? Milk of
course. What do adults eat? Meat? Correct. He said by them cloning the food
needed for humans; it was pure. No diseases or imperfections.

Mike: So what happened next.

Bo: We stood around and he showed me thing of what was and
what was in our near future. They have been around longer than we have. Helping
us all along the way. Including the Egyptians. He explai

ned they cannot live on
Earth because they age differently here than we do.

Mike: Did they help the Mayans? As well?

Bo: No, they did get help. But not from them. But they
showed me Atlantis. It was awesome. They had everything. They abused the
technology given to them. Thus it was their own doing they erased themselves.
The Egyptians, they helped. There are traces of them left behind in the ruins
of Egypt.

I asked the big guy why the back of the moon. He said to me
thru my mind. It is the only place in our solar system that they cannot be
detected by humans. We fly by and swing into the back.

He assured me by the rate we are doing things. By the year
2015 the whole world will have no doubt they are here. We will first come
across them on the Moon. Then soon after, we will look up into the sky and it
will be full of there ships; thousands of them, leaving no doubt that they are
real.

The world will clean itself again by eliminating all life on
her. They are to repopulate us after this happens. Like they have done so many
times before. They will save the human race. Remember, they are us a million
years from now.

After this I found myself back in my house with 5 minutes to
get to work.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

In order to achieve those illusive
sales, promotion and marketing of books is crucial. One way to achieve this is
to offer advance reader copies (ARC's) to reviewers, bookstores, journalists, magazines
and newspapers.

So what is an ARC?

This is copy of a book, released by a
publisher that is yet to go into final print. Usually, there is no cover, the
formatting is not at the final stage and this copy may differ from the actual
published version of the book.

You know you have reached the big
time, when your publisher demands confidentiality agreements are signed by
reviewers before the copies are released!

Pre Release Reviews:

Reviews of books are influential.
These few words give readers insight into much awaited new releases by popular
writers. They also provide introduction and information for new authors and
their work. Reviews provide a linear foundation of opinion which generates not
only a readership, but also—SALES!

Know your audience:

The recipients of ARC's, in exchange
for a free copy of the book, agree to post a review on sites where the book is
scheduled for sale, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads.

It is important to consider
carefully, the distribution of ARC's to appropriate reviewers. If the work is
fantasy, then target readers of fantasy. To circulate ARC's to readers of other
genres is risky. Random circulation to all genre readers may be a wasted effort
with no reviews posted. At best, the book will not be read—no gain, but no real
harm done. The real problem is when an ARC is critically analysed by a
reviewer, perhaps not familiar with the genre, who posts a low rated review.
Bad reviews can be anathema to sales.

Timing is everything:

As with all promotions and marketing
strategies, decisions regarding identification of reviewers, deadline for
circulation of copies and posting of reviews must be decided. ARC's should be
distributed at least three months before the official release date of the book.
This strategy can net the author a high level review, which can be cited on the
back cover of the book. Nothing screams out success like New York Times Best Selling Author!

The down side:

Online piracy. Yes book piracy is
theft. Yes it robs authors of income and no the pirates don't care. According
to Paul Salvette of Google +—"if your book is in Amazon's Top 100, it will
be pirated." He went on to say, "piracy, is not about lending a
Kindle to a neighbour to read a book without paying for it. This is about your
EPUB, MOBI, and/or PDF eBook being distributed through an unscrupulous website,
illegally sold or shared through the BitTorrent protocols (peer to peer
sharing)."

In conclusion, are ARC's
worthwhile—absolutely!reviews get the author
noticed and sell books. But what about the risk? Can you 100% protect yourself
against piracy? Probably not. There are however strategies that will help to
keep your work out of the hands of thieves. Firstly, the publisher must
identify legitimate, professional reviewers, familiar with the genre of the
book, the names of which are signed off by the author. Ask for a copy of the
reader's review writing and posting policy. Issue posting deadlines. There are
companies out there, who for a fee allow you to track and remove files. An
example of such a service provider is Muso https://www.muso.com/anti-piracy/

“Are you making noise with your book marketing or are you
creating a symphony?”

Warrior Born –
Book 1 of the Katana Series - Out Now!

Redemption –
Book 2 of the Katana Series – Coming soon from
Grimoire Books Publishing.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

H.C Brown has paranormal story out now! Coming Out With Pride, is #5 in the Pride Brother's Series and is from Luminosity Publishing UK.

Prince Jannus of Knight Watch turns his back on tradition and seeks a male for his mate. His preference is for a human to submit to him in and out of the dungeon.

Once a year at Samhain, he opens the gate to his world and sends his faithful Elf to collect suitable men for him and the other Doms seeking delicious subs for mutual pleasure.

Brad Archer’s desire to come out and find a strong handsome Dom has become an obsession. Heading to Stonehenge to join a festival, he meets a stranger who lures him to another dimension crammed with Doms more than happy to take him for a walk on the wild side.

Maree Anderson has some wonderful news. Freaks Under Fire, the third book in the Freaks YA series, is now available for pre-order on Amazon, iBooks Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Google Play at the discounted price of US$2.99 (release date 31 March 2015)!!

Jay’s still reeling from an encounter with a rogue cyborg when she learns she has a twin—a severely damaged Beta unit. Jay’s determined to find the Beta. Now she all she needs to do convince Tyler to stay behind. But Jay’s not the only one searching for her twin. With enemies who’ll stop at nothing, and Tyler caught in the crossfire, Jay’s life just got a whole lot more complicated.

OTHER NEWS

This coming weekend is the ARRC - the Australian Romance Readers Convention - in Canberra. While it is too late to register for the event, you can still get tickets for the book signing.